The Holy Land beckons us as a nation, and many people answer the call by making aliyah. In this series, I have profiled many Baltimore families and singles who have made aliyah. While it is typically thought of as a project for young adults, for some, the right aliyah choice is to wait until the Golden Years. Whether their motivation is to realize a long-deferred dream or simply to live near their children, these olim join the growing number of American retirees happily settled in Israel.
Older adults do not have to worry about things like jobs and children’s adjustment and schooling, but they may wonder whether they are welcome and if there are enough resources. In interviewing for this article, I found that this is not a problem. In addition to a plethora of social, learning, and chesed opportunities, there are government programs and benefits that satisfy senior needs. Medical care is a prime concern, and it is reassuring to know that every Israeli citizen is eligible for coverage regardless of pre-existing conditions. In addition, seniors can access a pass that provides discounts for transportation (half price!), parks, and entertainment. (To qualify, a man must be over 66 and 4 months, and a woman must be over the age of 61 and 4 months.) American pensions are available for U.S. citizens living abroad; one should check eligibility. Finally, for those wishing to live with others their age, retirement communities can be found throughout the country.[1]
In the last several years, many couples from Baltimore have chosen to make Israel the place of their retirement. Rabbi Avrohom and Mrs. Miriam Glenn, Mr. Aryeh and Mrs. Judy Gross, and Mr. Pinchas and Mrs. Toby Fader are now happily settled in Eretz Yisrael, and have graciously agreed to share their experiences.
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Rabbi Glenn has owned an apartment in Eretz Yisrael for 48 years but waited for retirement when aliyah would be more affordable. He had worked in chinuch for three decades, and Mrs. Glenn, formerly Miriam Robbins, owned and ran Pern’s Hebrew Books and Gifts for decades as well. In 2015, they agreed that the time was ripe. She closed her beloved shop, and the Glenns picked up and made the move. “If we are already here, then when Mashiach comes, maybe we will be allowed to stay!” quipped Rabbi Glenn. Aside from numerous cousins and a grandson learning in yeshiva in Israel, the Glenns left all their children and grandchildren behind. “Skype and WhatsApp help a lot to stay connected,” says Mrs. Glenn.
The Glenns settled in the Mattesdorf neighborhood of Yerushalayim, mainly because their apartment is located there. They chose to live in a different apartment, however, both because their own apartment is on a very high floor and because they do not want to throw out the tenant who has been there for the past 30 years. In Mattesdorf, Mrs. Glenn finds that most people speak English, so their adjustment was made easier. The neighborhood was started by the Mattesdorfer Rav about 50 years ago and has a yeshivish chareidi community of Americans, Europeans, and Israelis. “Torah Ohr moved to Mattesdorf in the early 60s,” says Mrs. Glenn, “and is considered one of the main yeshivos that attract people to come here.” Rabbi Glenn describes the kedusha felt in the neighborhood, “There are so many talmidei chachamim living in this neighborhood who have Shas at their fingertips.”
The Glenns, thankfully, had a smooth transition after arriving in Israel and experienced few challenges, aside from having to visit the government offices a few times before getting what they needed. There are a few shuls that Rabbi Glenn likes to attend, and Mrs. Glenn enjoys going to shiurim offered in English, both in and outside their neighborhood. Mrs. Glenn mentions that she is sometimes confused about the unfamiliar hechsherim. When in doubt, she sticks to the many familiar American products available.
When it comes to medical care, Mrs. Glenn is very satisfied with her primary care doctor but finds that, except in an emergency, there can be a long wait if a specialist is needed. She attributes this to the socialized system and recommends that, if necessary, one can turn to a “fabulous” organization, Chaim V’Chessed, started by Baltimore’s very own Pesach Freedman, to expedite things.
Mrs. Glenn enjoys attending Chaim V’Chessed’s program for seniors on Monday afternoons, with all kinds of activities, such as weaving, fruit platter design, a presentation on how to build your memory, and making latkes on Chanukah. The activities are free of charge, and they even offer transportation arrangements for those who require assistance in getting there!
Other involvements fill Mrs. Glenn’s days. She volunteers at a seniors program in Telz Stone and serves as a mentor in Mrs. Rivky Segal’s new mentoring program, which Mrs. Segal initiated to build up Israeli girls’ confidence and teach them English. All in all, the Glenns are living life to its fullest in Eretz Hakedosha. “I can walk out the door and catch a bus going to the Kotel and Kever Rochel,” says Mrs. Glenn, “and I think that’s amazing!”
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When Mr. Aryeh and Mrs. Judy Gross made aliyah in 2013, they were returning home after an extended leave of absence, fulfilling an old dream, and joining two married children already living in Israel. Born and raised in Israel during the British Mandate, Mr. Gross jokes about how his birth certificate reads “Palestine.” Gross got his education in the U.S., earning bachelor and masters degrees in electrical and electronic engineering, as well as a degree in industrial engineering and management. During those years, he found his partner for life, and together, he and Judy returned to Israel seven years after their marriage.
During those seven years, they worked on forming an American community in Israel, which opened in 1975. Through their efforts, Elazar, a settlement in Gush Etzion, served an Anglo industrial community, which was a new concept in cooperative living in Eretz Yisrael. Compared to the blossoming community of over 630 families today, Elazar’s beginning were quite primitive, starting with 14 families living in an area of only three short streets. In fact, back then, it was quite a celebration when garbage cans were distributed. Now, when the Grosses visit the yishuv they had created, they see the fruits of their labor after all the toil they endured in its establishment.
Four years later, the Grosses left Israel for what they imagined would be a short stay in Baltimore. Hashgacha had it that various factors held them back from returning to Israel immediately. As the years went by and the family was growing, Mr. Gross felt that moving back to Israel would only be feasible with the security of employment. Although he already had expertise in the engineering field, he was unable to secure employment from afar, and so the Grosses continued their lengthy stay in Baltimore.
Before returning to Israel in 2013, the Grosses left an indelible mark not only in Baltimore but in the greater region as well. In 1988, Mrs. Gross was inspired to create a program for religious high school graduates, where they could obtain college degrees in a Torah-based environment. Her idea blossomed into a partnership with Maalot Israel, becoming Maalot Baltimore. She served Maalot as academic dean for English studies from 1998 until 2013.
Mr. Gross, too, enjoyed a “fulfilling and enjoyable career” working in the aerospace industry, where he developed systems for smart transportation, one of the products of which is autonomous vehicles. Fourteen years ago, Mr. Gross was invited to Israel to deliver a keynote address at the first ITS (Intelligent Transportation Systems) conference. Two years later, he led a workshop in Israel to demonstrate the utilization of ITS. Mr. Gross laughs how, at the age of 70, his wife had to convince him to retire. However, now in Israel, Mr. Gross continues involvement as a board member of ITS Israel.
Returning to Israel, the Grosses settled in Ramat Beit Shemesh Alef. They describe Ramat Beit Shemesh as the fastest-growing planned city in the country, with the emphasis on lots of parks and space for children to play. Being that Ramat Beit Shemesh Alef is mainly Anglo, the Grosses didn’t find it too difficult to adjust. Mr. Gross says “You can hear Israeli-born children (with Anglo parents) speaking among themselves in English and in various accents – e.g., British, South African, Australian, and even New Zealand. Most stores have at least some workers who know English. In many shuls, the official language is English, including the rav’s drasha. Ramat Beit Shemesh’s close-knit and friendly community, bursting with shuls, actually reminds the Grosses of Baltimore. Their street itself contains both older and younger families of different religious orientations, including families who made aliya from Baltimore. The support system is enormous. “If someone needs something, there’s always someone to help,” exclaims Mrs. Gross.
In the Gross’ experience, the Israeli medical care is adequate but not like that of the U.S. They explain that one chooses a clinic from one of the four insurance companies that serve Israel. One can choose a doctor from the list of the clinic. Medication benefits are based on what the Ministry of Health included in the medical “basket.” The Grosses choose to do their annual checkup in the States, which usually coincides with visiting their children, since they find that to do it in Israel means scheduling appointments in a few clinics.
Since their move back to Eretz Yisrael, the Gross’ days are full of activities. Mr. Gross typically learns half a day and makes sure to exercise daily, too. Two days a week, the Grosses travel to visit Mr. Gross’ mother in Laniado hospital in Netanya, and once a week they visit their daughter and family in Yerushalayim. In Beit Shemesh, there are many shiurim for men and women that they attend. The city offers organized activities for seniors that are either free or subsidized. The Grosses also enjoy being part of clubs for hikes, travel, and get-togethers. For men, there is the Greybeard Club for traveling and visiting places, and the “Experience” is a club just for women. Another club, called The 55+, runs activities for both genders. One of the Gross’ favorite spots in Eretz Yisrael is Yam Hamelach (Dead Sea), where they go about once a month.
In conclusion, “There is always something going on here,” says Mrs. Gross, “Just being here, kedusha (holiness) is felt throughout the air.”
Quite recently, in August of 2017, Mr. Pinchas and Mrs. Toby Fader joined Baltimore aliyah fans in Ramat Beit Shemesh. Their flight through Nefesh B’Nefesh was a chartered one; all the passengers were making aliyah, and the joy was aptly felt as they landed on holy soil. The Faders’ aliyah was a fulfillment of a long-awaited dream that both of them thought about even before they met. “It was one of the things that connected us when we first met,” Mrs. Fader says. She had spent a year in university in Israel, and Mr. Fader studied a year and a half at the World Union of Jewish Students Program in Arad and then worked at Hadassah Hospital as a pharmacist. “In fact, recently, while we were cleaning out our home before we sold it,” Mrs. Fader says, “I found a letter I had written to a friend, telling her that I was engaged. Most of the letter talked about our future life in Israel.”
The Faders’ deep affinity for Israel led them on a pilot trip when their firstborn child was 16 months old. However, life circumstances stood in their way of making aliyah at that time, and they therefore spent the next 34 years raising their children in Palo Alto, Cleveland, and Baltimore, leaving their mark in each place. Mrs. Fader sees things in a positive perspective: “You can plan your life, but only Hakadosh Baruch Hu makes it a reality.”
In America, Mrs. Fader left her imprint working as an executive project manager for one of the largest international technology firms. She spent the last 10 years of her career traveling around the United States managing projects for her company and the last year working in the artificial intelligence arena. Mr. Fader started his career as a pharmacist before getting his masters in hospital administration. He worked for the federal government in the Department of Veterans Affairs in hospital administration. In the last 10 years, he worked as a pharmacy informatics specialist with computerized pharmacy medical records.
Fourteen years before making aliyah, the Faders bought an apartment in Ramat Beit Shemesh Aleph with the hope of one day moving to Israel. They chose RBS because of its affordability and Anglo community. “We felt that, when the time came, it would be hard enough to integrate into Israeli society, into a culture we were unfamiliar with. At least in an Anglo community, the integration would be easier,” says Mrs. Fader. In the Faders’ building alone, nine out of the 11 families are either Anglo or have spent a substantial number of years in an Anglo community outside of Israel.
The Faders are satisfied with their choice of community and enjoy participating in the clubs that the Grosses joined. In the neighborhood where the Faders currently live – until their new home is remodeled – they attend the same shul as Rabbi Dovid Gottlieb, former rabbi of Shomrei Emunah.
Their only concern in moving into RBS, recalls Mrs. Fader, was that they would not fit in. Their first impression was that it was a bit too chareidi for them. “The truth is that the people we have met in Ramat Beit Shemesh Aleph seem to be very much like us,” she says. Most of our new friends are retired or semi-retired professionals. The one difference between these friends and us, is that they have at least one child living in Israel, and usually, in Ramat Beit Shemesh, but we have none. All of our children and grandchildren are back in Baltimore.”
Leaving family behind was by far the hardest thing in the Faders’ aliyah process. In Baltimore, all their children live within 15 minutes of each other, and before their aliyah, the Faders enjoyed being part of that radius. A number of nieces, nephews, and close friends live in Israel, though, which makes for a nice network for the Faders. But nothing replaces close family members. “Skype, Facetime, and other technologies make it easier,” Mrs. Fader says, “but are absolutely no substitute for face-to-face conversation, and the touch and feel of affection of family.” Upon selling their house in Baltimore, the Faders purchased a condominium there to enable them to return a few times a year for extended visits with their family.
By and large, the Faders are adjusting fairly well. They not only are transitioning from life in the U.S. to Israeli life but also from working to a retired lifestyle. “These transitions take a lot of time,” says Mrs. Fader, “and we have not completed them.” Living in an English-friendly environment – coupled with Mrs. Fader’s fairly good Hebrew and Pinchas’ ability to make himself understood – language is not a problem. The initial bureaucratic and administrative issues that olim sort through after making aliyah was made easier for the Faders with assistance from Nefesh B’Nefesh. Mrs. Fader describes their experience, “For the most part, the bureaucratic issues that people used to complain about have been minimized. We managed to get our biometric passport, driver’s license, and teudat zehut (Israeli identity card) with minimal effort and almost no waiting time.
In terms of culture, Mrs. Fader has positive things to share: “People in stores and offices are nice and helpful. There is still a bit of ‘pushiness’ but not as bad as we anticipated it would be.” Shopping, however, is a bit of an adjustment. Mrs. Fader found it helpful for her and her husband to be shown around the supermarket by an old friend when they first arrived. “We spent over two hours going over the differences in products, major ingredients, meats, and kashrut certifications. I think this is very important, and everyone should do this if they have the opportunity.” In her experience, certain grocery items in Israel can be expensive, and she is trying to break out of the habit of translating shekels to dollars when shopping. A good point Mrs. Fader finds about shopping in Beit Shemesh is that the supermarkets cater to Anglos, and they can find many American products. One such supermarket, Osher Ad, which is similar to Cosco in the U.S., carries many of the Cosco brand products. “One needs to be ready to laugh at themselves and not be afraid to ask for help,” she states. “I have asked many random people in the supermarket for help and advice. I have also come home with products that I never intended to buy. I bought buttermilk instead of skim milk, and silver polish that I have no idea how to use because it does not look anything like what I am accustomed to!”
Another adjustment the Faders are facing is with transportation. They decided to try living without a car, as the buses are excellent and inexpensive. Like many Israelis, they do a fair amount of walking, as well, appreciating the daily exercise. They find that the medical system in Israel “takes a bit of getting used to.” Although they have had minimal experience with the medical care so far, the hospital Mrs. Fader went to for the tests her doctor ordered was thorough but not as sophisticated as she is used to in the States. “Things in the U.S. are much more formal,” she says. Her experience meeting her doctor, based on local recommendations, was a good one. She found her friendly and patient and was impressed that she spoke a perfect English.
A lot of the Faders’ time and energy is going into remodeling both their apartment in Israel and their condo in Baltimore. They find that the construction business in Israel is very different than in the U.S. and has been the most difficult challenge they have encountered since moving to Israel. They still make sure to go on tiyulim (trips) at least once every two weeks. “We try to partake in as many special events as possible, such as Yom Ha’atzmaut, Yom Yerushalayim, pre-Pesach, pre-Shavuot, and other events specific to Eretz Israel,” exclaims Mrs. Fader. “As a Jew, this is a very exciting place to be during these time periods.”
The Faders occasionally partake in the OU events in Yerushalayim as well as numerous lectures and trips sponsored by Nefesh B’Nefesh and other organizations. Mr. Fader attends a Daf Yomi shiur given early in the morning before Shacharis and fills his days with other shiurim as well. Mrs. Fader goes to shiurim a few days a week, spending one day in Yerushalayim, attending the women’s lectures at the Yeshurun shul. She enjoys meeting friends for coffee, lunch, and just to schmooze. Aside from all her involvements in Israel, Mrs. Fader continues doing work remotely for some of the organizations she was involved with in Baltimore.
Mrs. Fader sums up their aliyah experience as being relatively smooth. She acknowledges that there are times of loneliness, when they miss their family and friends in the States terribly. Sometimes, they miss the familiar way of life in Baltimore and the United States in general, and often, they miss the sense of really understanding how things work.
But when all is said and done, Mrs. Fader describes the sense of excitement and belonging that was immediate, beginning before they even got on the plane, when they first opened their file with Nefesh B’Nefesh. They feel that, in Israel, they receive special treatment and encouragement from just about everyone they meet, in their status as “new olim.” Mrs. Fader says, “I am sure that will change over time as we become no longer ‘new.’ The sense that even the mundane is holy here, is very evident,” she concludes. “Going about your everyday life has added purpose and meaning.”
A thorough listing of such centers and communities are listed on the AACI’s (Association of Americans & Canadians in Israel) website.
